Improved BIRMINGHAM or Hawkins-class cruiser built by HM
Dockyard, Chatham and laid down on 3rd June 1916. The first HAWKINS fought the Armada.
This cruiser was completed on 19th July 1919, went to the China Station
until 1928 and paid off for major repair. In 1929 this ship
re-commissioned for service in the Atlantic Fleet and after refit was re commissioned again
for duty in the East Indies. On return to UK in 1935 she paid off into
Reserve. During 1939 she
was taken in hand for
modernisation by HM Dockyard Portsmouth that was completed on 23rd December 1939. After a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 she was adopted by
the civil community of the Borough of Stockport then in the County of Cheshire.

5th Joined USS BAYFIELD
(Flagship of Force U) and Dutch Gunboat SOEMBA off Isle of

Wight for passage through
swept channels.

6th Provided naval
gunfire support during assault on UTAH Beach.

(Note: Bombardment targets allocated were
Maisy and St. Martin de Varreville batteries.

12th Deployed at GOOSEBERRY 4, north of Courselles with Commodore Depot Ships embarked.

Provided support and accommodation for crews of small
craft.

Available for bombardment duty if required.

20th After release from NEPTUNE took passage to rejoin Home
Fleet.

31st At Rosyth and withdrawn from operational
service.

Nominated for service in Training Squadron at Rosyth.

August Passage to Clyde for refit.

September Under refit and conversion prior to
relieving HM Cruiser DAUNTLESS.

1 9 4 5

January Under refit

to Future deployment under
consideration.

April

May Training requirement cancelled and ship
to reduce to Reserve status.

June Reducing to Reserve in Clyde.

P o s t W a r
N o t e s

HMS HAWKINS was later laid up at Falmouth in Category C Reserve and
placed on the Disposal List. She was first used for target trials and sold
to BISCO for demolition by Arnott Young on 26th August 1947. The ship was towed to Dalmuir
on the Clyde and arrived at the breaker's
yard during December that year.

S p e c i a l N o t e

Details of escorts for WS Series convoys
was provided by Donald Kindell, Ohio USA from an unpublished
source. This is gratefully acknowledged.